Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 38.98
Liaison Ann Drevno
Submission Date Aug. 11, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Saint Mary's College of California
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 2.00 Jane Camarillo
Vice Provost for Student Life
Student Life
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have one or more co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that fall into the following categories?:
Yes or No
Active student groups focused on sustainability Yes
Gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, or urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems Yes
Student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes Yes
Sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills No
Conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience No
Cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience No
Wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles No
Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences No
Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills Yes
Sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution No
Graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions No
Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives No

The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:

Project Green is a student governed club with a history and focus on educating the student body about sustainability issues, and creating advocacy programs of impact on the campus. One of the important programs initiated and run by this group was the successful Flip the Switch program.


The website URL where information about student groups is available:
A brief description of gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems:

Starting in 2009, Saint Marys College successfully nurtured a 1/2 acre Legacy Garden, which evolved out of the desire to educate students about ecology, food sources and community. The garden, built with over 1,000 hours of student labor, is the focus of a number of educational programs and provides fresh produce on a limited basis for a student-run market table as well as use in food prepared by Dining Services.

Additional information can be found at
http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/green-thumbed-gaels-bringing-campus-garden-to-life


The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:

Fair Trade Fridays are run by Mission and Ministry Center. The student group arranges for the sale of fair trade items, including coffee and jewelry and crafts from South America, and use the fair as a process to explain the purpose and values of fair trade. All profits go back to the organizations that gather and procure the materials.

Additional URL
http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/fair-trade-friday-3


The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:

N/A


The website URL where information about the sustainable investment or finance initiatives is available:
---

A brief description of conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
---

The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
---

A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:

N/A


The website URL where information about the cultural arts event(s) is available:
---

A brief description of wilderness or outdoors programs for students that follow Leave No Trace principles:

N/A


The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
---

A brief description of sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
---

The website URL where information about the theme is available:
---

A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:

The Green Living Learning Community is centered on a specific sustainability component in one residence hall at Saint Marys College. Sophomore students choosing to participate become part a coalition of 10+ students who work with their peers to actively learn, through daily life, specific skills that relate to sustainability. Some of the goals include developing a stronger connection to the campus’ natural environment, having a more structured way to reflect on the relationship between personal behavior/decisions and environmental impact, take steps to reduce personal environmental footprint and see measured results.


The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:

N/A


The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
---

A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:

N/A


The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
---

A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
---

The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The following program does not fall with in the reporting year timeframe but was a notable example of symposia program:
'Against the Grain' was a student focused theme for a speaker series focused on constructive change and sustainability, as part of Saint Mary College's JanTerm. The program included provocative speakers taking on issues from politics to sustainable living.

During the intense January Term, students step out of their comfort zones, explore new intellectual territory and took classes that embody both the Lasallian tradition of social action. "Against the Grain," explored provocative speakers have taken on issues ranging from politics to sustainable living. Speakers included: Doug Fine, author of Farewell, My Subaru; Davey D, Bay Area hip hop historian; Chris Carlsson, co-founder of the Critical Mass bicycle movement; and Marilyn Wann, body image activist and editor of the magazine Fat! So?.

http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/against-the-grain-speaker-series-features-bill-ayers-and-other-leading-voices-0

he following program does not fall with in the reporting year timeframe but was a notable example of a campus wide reading:
"Feast or Famine" challenged students to think in new ways about the lives of the poor and the issues of social justice that relate to food.

One component of the theme-based learning year was reading Michael Pollan's 'The Omnivore's Dilemma' (which all first year students were required to read during the summer and was provided to them at new student orientation), followed by participation in a series of events connected to the book and the theme, including an assignment in their English Composition class.

Pollan participated in the themed year by meeting with several classes and a lunchtime roundtable discussion with students. Pollan also delivered a free public, evening lecture.

http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/michael-pollan-addresses-feast-or-famine-for-saint-marys-college-first-year-experience-program


The following program does not fall with in the reporting year timeframe but was a notable example of symposia program:
'Against the Grain' was a student focused theme for a speaker series focused on constructive change and sustainability, as part of Saint Mary College's JanTerm. The program included provocative speakers taking on issues from politics to sustainable living.

During the intense January Term, students step out of their comfort zones, explore new intellectual territory and took classes that embody both the Lasallian tradition of social action. "Against the Grain," explored provocative speakers have taken on issues ranging from politics to sustainable living. Speakers included: Doug Fine, author of Farewell, My Subaru; Davey D, Bay Area hip hop historian; Chris Carlsson, co-founder of the Critical Mass bicycle movement; and Marilyn Wann, body image activist and editor of the magazine Fat! So?.

http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/against-the-grain-speaker-series-features-bill-ayers-and-other-leading-voices-0

he following program does not fall with in the reporting year timeframe but was a notable example of a campus wide reading:
"Feast or Famine" challenged students to think in new ways about the lives of the poor and the issues of social justice that relate to food.

One component of the theme-based learning year was reading Michael Pollan's 'The Omnivore's Dilemma' (which all first year students were required to read during the summer and was provided to them at new student orientation), followed by participation in a series of events connected to the book and the theme, including an assignment in their English Composition class.

Pollan participated in the themed year by meeting with several classes and a lunchtime roundtable discussion with students. Pollan also delivered a free public, evening lecture.

http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/michael-pollan-addresses-feast-or-famine-for-saint-marys-college-first-year-experience-program

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.